The weather outside was quintessentially monsoon, a scene painted in shades of gray and green. Heavy, dark clouds hung low, blanketing the sky and casting a somber mood over the city. The air was thick with humidity, carrying the rich, earthy scent of rain-soaked soil and wet leaves. A steady drizzle fell, creating a symphony of raindrops tapping rhythmically against windows, roofs, and the pavement. Puddles formed on the streets, reflecting the dim light of the overcast sky, while the occasional gust of wind rustled the leaves and sent ripples across the water's surface. The distant rumble of thunder added a touch of foreboding to the already heavy atmosphere, perfectly mirroring the tension in the room.

Jayasvi was sitting in Raghav's lap straddling him on the leather sofa. She was breathless but it seemed like Raghav was nowhere near to be done. His manly fingers played with her bra strap on her shoulder moving them aside to see the red marks it left on her skin. He bit over the marks. Jayasvi's hand fisted over his shoulder trying to close her thighs. Her ankle length dress collected till her knees now.

She couldn't utter a single word. She knew she should say something but that sane part of her brain was shut down somewhere. He moved further kissing on her exposed collarbone biting their slightly. His hands reaching up caressing her breast slowly making her moan softly.

"Fuck", he let out wrapping his hand around her neck pulling her in for a deep kiss. Jayasvi could feel his hardness rubbing against her warmth as she felt him kissing her with so much passion. She wrapped her arms around his neck pulling him closer as he entered his tongue inside her mouth. It was like he was marking her as his with every touch of his. His palm resting on her lower back now pulling her closer if possible.

Jayasvi was breathless till this was done. She leaned her head on his shoulder for support. This wasn't something which came in her mind when she came to meet him. This felt too intimate and certainly not something her family would allow her before marriage.

"You make me so crazy for yourself, Jayasvi", he spoke, his voice thicker and rougher than usual. Before she could understand his words, she felt a slap on her ass which made her jump gasping loudly.

"You are really my naughty girl", he uttered smugly tracing her soft lips with a smirk forming on his lips. Her eyes widen with her face turning red as she got up almost falling on him with how much her legs were shaking at the moment.

Before she could move further, she felt Raghav holding her wrist, pulling her closer with her back resting against his chest. She tried to make her dress presentable, but his touch was distracting. He rested his face on her shoulder, kissing her neck so softly that she felt she might fall at any moment. It was as if he was literally melting her.

The weather outside continued to mirror the tension and emotions within. The rain fell steadily, its rhythmic sound a stark contrast to the turmoil in Jayasvi's heart. The air was cool and fresh, a soothing balm to her frazzled nerves.

"With everything that happened, I'm sure we aren't going to have an argument ever," Raghav teased, his voice deeper than it had ever been tracing his nose on her neck. She clenched her thighs as she felt his arm around her waist. Her face was so red that she could feel the heat burning her.

"You are so bad," she mumbled. He turned her in his arms, kissing her forehead.

"I thought you liked bad boys since they say all good boys go to heaven, but bad boys bring heaven to you," he uttered, making her gasp. How did he know she was listening to that song so much these days?

"How?" she mumbled, her face turning redder. He was definitely not a hacker. Or was he? But all the books she read about hackers, they had some ethics. He was definitely not a hacker.

"I think we should keep some things as secrets. It would make things more interesting and spicy," he said with a smirk forming on his lips. She frowned, feeling embarrassed and curious at the same time.

"But apart from that, are you doing some dieting or something?" he asked, a frown forming on his forehead.

"Nope," she replied with confusion. Raghav stared at her face for some time before nodding.

"You weigh less than you did on our engagement. Your face itself looks so weak," he observed, looking concerned. She touched her cheeks, trying to confirm if he was right, but she couldn't see a difference. Yes, she had been crying a lot and eating less. Maybe that could be the reason.

"Maybe I've just been stressed," she admitted softly, feeling the weight of his concern.

"Jayasvi, you need to take care of yourself," he said, his tone softening. "I can't have you falling apart."

She looked up at him, seeing the genuine worry in his eyes. Despite the earlier tension, she felt a sense of comfort in his presence. The storm outside seemed to reflect their tumultuous emotions, but within the shelter of his arms, she found a moment of peace.

"I will," she promised, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'll try to eat better and take care of myself."

Raghav sighed, pulling her closer. "That's all I ask. I want you to be healthy and happy."

She nodded, feeling a mixture of emotions swirling within her. The rain continued to fall outside, a steady reminder of the cleansing and renewal that comes after every storm. As she stood there, wrapped in Raghav's embrace, she felt a glimmer of hope for their future.

"But isn't it good for me to loose weight. I don't like to look chubby", she spoke pouting her lips looking up at him still in his embrace.

"You were perfect the way you were and you are perfect right now also. I am just saying don't go in all those dieting thing. Your health is most important. A little yoga and exercise is important for the body but you are a student, you need a lot of nutritions", he spoke cupping her face. She smiled at his concern. She looked in his eyes trying to find the glimpse of the man she saw few moments ago but she couldn't find anything. She didn't know whom to trust. She thought he was perfect but than she got to know about this side of him. But isn't it fine? Every person is having their own shortcomings. She should be thankful that she is finally knowing him more.

She sighed checking her phone. It's been 35 minutes since she was here. She thought she spend like hours here with how much things happened between them. She had a test in two days with some assignments. She should probably leave.

"I think I should leave. I have some work to do", she informed him when she noticed his lips having her lipgloss over it. She bit her lower lip. She felt shy as she raised her hand close to his lips which took him for surprise, his dark eyes observing her each action as she rubbed the gloss from his lips not wanting him to get embarrassed because of it.

"I'll drop you", he offered ready to get up.

"No, it's fine. I already took so much of your time. I just wanted to meet you but than...", she couldn't complete her sentence as her eyes rest on the floor remembering everything. She should definitely maintain some distance now that every moment they get alone, they end up getting all over each other.

She took her leave smiling softly last time at him as he came to see her off to the elevator. The doors closed with them smiling at each other. The moment the doors were closed, Raghav called for his secretary Akshay Sharma, the smile was no more visible on his lips as he asked him to arrange a meeting with the marketing team in 15 minutes.

Jayasvi felt a wave of exhaustion wash over her as she entered her home. The emotional turmoil from her conversation with Raghav still weighed heavily on her. The rain outside had turned into a steady drizzle, creating a melancholic ambiance that seemed to mirror her feelings.

Upon entering the living room, she was met with the sight of her cousin Rishabh sitting with Nidhi. The sight of Nidhi immediately brought back the sting of betrayal she felt from Ankita's lie and Nidhi's silence.

"Hey," Rishabh greeted, his smile gentle and warm, trying to ease the tension in the room.

"Hi, bhai," Jayasvi replied, forcing a small smile. She wasn't ready to face Nidhi yet, but she couldn't ignore Rishabh.

"Come, sit," Rishabh urged, patting the sofa beside him. Jayasvi glanced at her mother, Anjali, who was watching her with hopeful eyes. She sighed and reluctantly sat down next to them.

"Jayu, I thought you'll come and talk straight with me. Never expected you to hide anything", Rishabh spoke but Jayasvi chose to stay silent at the moment. She wanted to hear why they were here suddenly.

"Jayu, I hope you aren't angry anymore," Nidhi began, her voice tentative.

Jayasvi clenched her fists, trying to keep her emotions in check. "It's not that simple, Nidhi. You know what Ankita did, and you didn't say anything."

Nidhi looked down, guilt written all over her face. "I'm sorry, Jayu. I should have spoken up. I was just... scared."

"Scared of what?" Jayasvi's voice wavered. "Scared of hurting her and what about me?"

Rishabh placed a reassuring hand on Jayasvi's shoulder. "Jayu, I think Nidhi understands now. She's here to make things right. She even told elders about the incident and they also know that you weren't in wrong than"

"I know you're upset," Nidhi continued, her eyes filling with tears. "But I'm here now, trying to fix things. Can't we talk about it?"

Jayasvi took a deep breath, trying to steady her emotions. "You can't just expect things to be okay because you decided to apologize now. What Ankita did hurt me deeply, and your silence hurt just as much."

Anjali stepped forward, her expression softening. "Jayasvi, sometimes people make mistakes. What's important is that they learn from them and try to make amends."

Jayasvi looked at her mother, feeling the weight of her words. She knew Anjali was right, but the pain of betrayal was still fresh. "I need time," she said finally. "I need time to process everything."

Rishabh nodded, understanding her need for space. "Take all the time you need, Jayu. We'll be here for you, whenever you're ready."

Nidhi wiped away a tear, her voice trembling. "I'm really sorry, Jayu. I'll do whatever it takes to make things right."

Jayasvi felt a mix of emotions – anger, sadness, and a glimmer of hope. She wasn't ready to forgive and forget, but maybe, just maybe, with time, she could find it in her heart to heal.

As the rain continued to fall outside, creating a soothing rhythm against the windows, Jayasvi felt a sense of calm begin to settle over her. The road to mending her broken heart and strained relationships would be long, but she wasn't alone. She had her family, and even though things were complicated, she knew they loved her. And for now, that was enough.

To cope with the turmoil, Jayasvi immersed herself in her studies and household chores. She spent most of her day focusing on her classes and helping her mother around the house. The busyness provided a welcome distraction, allowing her to avoid interactions that felt too overwhelming. At college, she dedicated her free time to the library, working on assignments well before their deadlines and helping classmates with their studies. Initially, she thought this rigorous routine would be exhausting, but it proved refreshing, giving her a sense of accomplishment and time for herself and her family.

One warm August afternoon, Jayasvi received a call from Raghav, who sounded unusually curt, asking her to meet him outside her college. She hadn't seen him since the incident, feeling too shy and respectful of his busy schedule to reach out. His tone now, however, left her apprehensive.

As she stepped out of the college, adjusting her yellow floral top and dark denims, she modestly covered herself with a stole, her hair tied in a French Braid. The sun was high, casting long shadows and making the air shimmer with heat. As she approached his car, easily identifiable by the security detail, the head of security opened the passenger door for her.

"Good afternoon," she greeted softly with a gentle smile.

"What happened when I was in London?" Raghav's voice was cold, his gaze fixed ahead, not meeting hers.

"What do you mean?" she asked, confusion evident in her voice.

"What happened when I was in London and you wouldn't agree to video call, claiming I should focus on my work and that a two-minute voice call was enough for you?" His words were sharp, laced with frustration. She blinked, realizing what he was referring to.

"I don't know what you mean," she mumbled, looking down and playing with her fingers, her concentration solely on her lap.

"Really? You don't?" he pressed, his tone icy. She remained silent.

"I knew your father was violent, but this?" He let the sentence hang in the air, his voice a mix of disbelief and anger.

She looked up at him, her eyes wide with surprise and fear. "How did you know?" she whispered.

"Why didn't you tell me, Jayasvi?" he demanded, finally turning to face her. His eyes were dark with a mix of concern and anger. "Why did I have to hear it from someone else?"

She swallowed hard, tears welling up in her eyes. "I... I didn't want to worry you. You were so busy, and I didn't want to be a burden."

Raghav's jaw clenched, his frustration palpable. "Think whatever you want since whatever I do will never change your point of view. I just came here to tell you that I am going to meet your father. Don't say later that I didn't inform you before," he spoke, his voice so cold it almost made her freeze. But she couldn't just let this happen.

"Listen, Raghav, you aren't going to do any such thing. Whatever he did, he is my father," she spoke, scared somewhere deep inside. She didn't want him to hurt her father. It would make her father feel humiliated, but it would also lead to him getting angrier at her.

Raghav's eyes narrowed, his gaze piercing. "And what about you, Jayasvi? What about how he hurt you? Don't you think he needs to be held accountable?"

She shook her head, tears spilling over. "He's my father. Please, Raghav, just let it go. I can handle it."

Raghav sighed, his expression softening slightly as he reached out to wipe away her tears. "You shouldn't have to handle it alone, Jayasvi. But fine, I won't confront him if that's what you want. But promise me, you'll never hide something like this from me again."

She nodded, relieved but still apprehensive. "I promise."

The tension in the car seemed to ease slightly, though the underlying issues remained unresolved. The rain outside continued to fall, creating a soothing rhythm against the windows, a stark contrast to the storm of emotions between them. As they sat in silence, Jayasvi hoped this would be a turning point, a moment that would bring them closer rather than drive them further apart.

Raghav finally broke the silence. "Let's get out of here. We need to talk more, but not here." His voice was softer now, the cold edge gone.

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So any of you having any thoughts about Raghav till now? Things got a little heated up in the chapter. It's my first time writing something like this so please forgive me if I typed down something wrong.

The story is going to go on an emotional roller coaster. Again, if you are expecting Jayasvi to act completely like a pure innocent virgin, that isn't gonna happen. She is having desires of her own which you'll see soon. Jayasvi's journey will be about balancing her own feelings and desires with the tumultuous relationship she has with Raghav.

Next target: 124 votes and 55 comments.

Till next time...